Sailing through -- girls only

Three years ago, Dawn Santamaria knew practically nothing about tall ships. Today, she not only owns an 118-foot-long ship with her husband, she runs a summer program on it.

Sisters Under Sail is a leadership program that Santamaria founded in 2005 for girls ages 13 to 21. Last weekend, the tall ship Unicorn set anchor in Boston Harbor for the first time, boarding six girls for the next rotation of the leadership program.

"There wasn't a program that was exclusively for girls," Santamaria said. "I wanted to provide a safe learning environment for them to help them step up to the plate and realize the leaders they are inside."

Taylor Armstrong, 15, who joined the New Jersey-based Sisters Under Sail program after her father saw an ad in a sailing magazine, had not had much experience on boats. "None of us had major sailing experience, so we all came in on the same boat, literally."

Santamaria said she saw how learning to sail helped her four daughters' personalities and confidence to blossom and changed her perspective on what teenage girls are capable of.

The girls come from around the country and pay $999 for a one-week program, in which they work alongside the all-female crew members in learning how to set sail, navigate the ship, and become part of the crew in all aspects.

"This is the most genuine experience I've ever had," Armstrong said. "From the moment we boarded, it was an instant sisterhood with the rest of the girls. I was stunned at how easily we got along. There was no time for catfights."

According to Santamaria, the lack of male influence on the ship makes it easier for the girls to be themselves.

"It's great not dealing with the dynamic of boys and girls for a few days," Santamaria said. "Us girls, we surrender ourselves and relinquish ourselves when boys are around. We think it makes us more attractive.

"When we remove the male factor, we are able to work better together. We share information willingly; there is no ego involved in terms of managing the vessel. We truly just work on another level."

When the ship sets out for its voyage, the only supplies the girls have are food, fuel, and water. Instead of showering, the girls go swimming. As the days go by, their hair and clothes get dirtier, but Santamaria believes this is just another lesson for the girls.

"By the end of the week, you let go of that external personification of what you project to the outside world," she said. "You get to see the inner beauty these girls possess and what they are truly made of in their hearts and minds."

Santamaria, who said every girl has her pivotal moment, recalled that one girl last summer had difficulty going up the ladder to the ship after a group swim.

Realizing the source of the girl's frustration and embarrassment with the ladder, Santamaria decided it was time to build a new one.

She pulled out a power saw and safety goggles, and assigned crew members to work with the girl to build a ladder. When it was completed, the teenager never wanted to get out of the water.

"From that point on, she was more talkative and more engaged in all aspects," Santamaria said.

"That was her moment. That was when she made her shift. Being on the ship is a unique experience that is entirely their own."